HAMILTON CHURCH DEDICATION FESTIVAL

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1871, 3 July 1884, Page 2

HAMILTON CHURCH DEDICATION FESTIVAL

Lvst night the Hamilton people, of all sorts and conditions of men, repaired to S. Poter's Church on the occasion of tho Dedication Festival, being within the octave- of Saint Peter. At 7.30 tiro service opened with the hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers, to Dr. Sullivan's tune St Gertrude, while tho clergy marched from tho vestry to their places. The Rev. William Colder sang Win service ; Tallis'Ftsb.vtl, vvit.h the Ely confession. The Rev. Mr Pi illips of To Awamutu read the. first lesson, XI Chron. Y. on the glory of the tempb. The Rev. H. S. Davis read tho second lesson Rev. XXI, verse 0 to end of chapter, on the New Jerusalem. — The anthem was taken from the Book of Ezekicl, the Psahr, "Ye shall dwell in the land,' thehyam before^t'ie sermon be.nj; '* Through the night of doubt and sorrow." The Rev. Joseph Bates, of Holy Tiinity, North Shore, pieached from the text " My house shall be called a house of prayer." The preacher in a clear and connected manner shovyed the relation of the religious sentiment with ait and architecture, its reasonableness and its bearing in colonial surroundings — and the natuial outcome of religious sentimeut, of whatever section, in the erection and beautifying of the temples of the Most High — and its relation to our personal life. After the nermon three of Barnley's offertory sentences were sung while the offerings of the people were being collected. The Yen. Archdeacon Willis gave the Benediction. The hymn, " The Church's One Foundation,*' was sung as the clergy left the chancel. On the whole, the churchpeople are to be congratulated on the success of their service. The hymns were very good. The chanting was heatty, but would have been better if there could have been a rehearsal of the associated members, many friends coming from' Cambridge, Tamahere, and other places. If it is a good thing, as it seems to be, to have a conductor, it is very necessary that every one should note his monitions. The anthem was good, and the healthiest! of the service was ino^t cheering. Aftei the service the associated members sat down to a sociable meal at the invitation of the minister and vestry of Hamilton. Tliis closed a leally prosperous and helpful day for Wttikato cluuch people.